Side bearing



July 1, 1941. R. s. co'rTRELL SIDE BEARING Filed Feb. 17. 1939 -3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. B. COTTRELL.

SIDE BEARING Filed Feb. 17, 1939 July 1, 1941.

' INVENTOR. @bef/ wre@ July l, 1941- R. B. co'r'rRELL SIDE BEARING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 17, 1939 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 1, 1941 UNITED STATS ATENT OFFICE SIDE BEARING Application February 17, 1933, Serial No. l'256,971

22 Claims.

My invention relates to a shock absorbing mechanism and more particularly to an improved design of the basic idea shown and described in W. C. Drews Patent 1,958,188, issued May 8, 1934.

An object of my invention is to develop such a design of shock absorbing mechanism particularly for use as a side bearing for railway cars.

My invention further comprehends a type of side bearing which will offer smooth resistance to car body roll and prevent the development of synchronous movements of the car body.

A further object of my invention is an improved design of such a shock absorbing mechanism wherein provision is made for application of a manually operated tool by which the parts may be assembled or dismantled without other power means.

My invention also contemplates an improvement in design which permits a simpler method of assembly and at the same time accommodates the use of most suitable and eicient foundry practice.

My improved design has for a further object such construction and arrangement of parts as will prevent their loss or displacement upon failure of the arch spring associated therewith.

Other objects and details will be more apparent from the description of the associated drawings wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view ofan embodiment of my novel shock absorbing device;

Figure 2 is a side elevatin of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, the view being taken Afrom vthe left as seen in those figures; and l u Figure 4 is an end elevation taken from the right as `seen in Figures 1 and 2;

gure 5 isvavtop plan view'ofA the base plate used in my novel structure; Figure 6 isaside elevation thereof; Figures 7 and Srare endviews thereof taken from the left and right respectively as seen in Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 9 .isA a longitudinal verticalv section taken substantially in the plane indicated bythe line 9 9 of Figure 5; i f

Figure 10 is a top .plan View of -the saddle casting usedin mynovel structure; Figure 11 is a side elevation thereof and Figure 12 is an end elevation taken from the left as seen in Figure l0;

Figure 13 is a sectional view ltaken in the longitudinal vertical planel substantially bisecting the saddle casting'as-indicated by the line I3-I3 of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of my novel form of truss spring; Figure 15 is a side elevation thereof; and Figure 16 an end elevation; and

Figure 17 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my novel side bearing showing the method of assembly thereof.

My novel device comprises a base plate generally indicated at 2 having at its ends securing lugs 4 and 5 with the central openings 6, 6 therein for reception of securing bolts or studs. In themodification shown I have arranged said securing lugs at the ends of the base plate, but in other modifications I may place said securing lugs at the opposite sides of the base plate instead of at the ends. At the juncture of said lug 4 with the main body of the base plate are formed the reinforcing gussets or ribs 8, 8, the'inner'e'dges of said ribs 8 merging with the end wall I0 arcuately relieved on its inner face to form a shallow transverse channel as indicated at I2 (Figure 9),

thus making a seat or abutment for one end of the arch spring I4.

The bottom of the base plate is cored out over a large portion of its surface as indicated at I6, I8, 20 and 22 to reduce the weight of the casting and to limit the area required to be nished to relatively narrow bands about the perimeter of the casting and bridges there-acrossas'indicated at 24, 26 and 28. 'Ihis is particularly desirable since the surface on which the base plate is 'seated is required to be smooth and true, and by so arranging the bottom of the plate any necessary machining is reduced to a minimum.

Merging with the end wall I0 are the short lateral walls 30, 30 at opposite sides of the casting. said side walls having the cored out openings 32, 32 for reception of the hook-like ends 34, 34 of the truss springs 36, 36. The form of the openings 32 is best seen from the side views of Figures 2 and 6 and their inner edges are deiined by the post-like terminations 35 (Figure V6). The Walls 3i] in conjunction with the studs or posts 35 serve as retaining means for the truss springs 36, the hook-like ends of whichhave engagement as at 38 with the post-like structures 35. Centrally of the casting and at opposite sides thereof are formed the studs 40, 40 having top surfaces of arcuate form as indicated at 42 (Figure 6), said surfaces providing limiting stops for the flexing of the arch spring I4 when placed 4under load. The said studs 40, 40 have the reinforcing-vend flanges 44, 44 merging with the base plate.

The opposite end of the arch spring I4 is seated in the shallow transverse channel 48 (Figure 13) formed on the end wall 49 'of' the saddle casting generally indicated at 50, said saddle casting being shown in detail in Figures to 13 inclusive and having the lateral guide and retaining flanges 52, 52'received in the channel guide ways 54, 54 (Figure 3) formed in the flanged and re-flanged retaining ears 56, 56 providedat opposite sides adjacent the end of the base plate 2. The end Wall 49 of the saddle castmg is recessed centrally thereof to form the tool pocket 5I (Figure 10)` hereafter referred to.

The saddle casting 50 has the lateral walls 58, 58 in which are formed the openings 60, 6B for reception of the opposite ends of the truss spring, said opening-s having their outer extrem` ities limited by the flaring flanges 62, 62 (Figure 11) for the purpose already described. The openings 6U are definedV at their inner'edges by the post-like structures indicated at B4, 64 having a cross section with arcuate surfaces at 66, 66 forming seats for the hook ends of the Vtruss springs. The 'arch spring I4 is a `steel spring plate formedwiththe desired arch and with ends havingrounded edges formed with smooth radii for .complementary abutment'with the seats I2 and 48 already described. Y

.The truss spring 36 shown in Figures 14 to 16, rinclusive, is formed oflround-bar spring steel lstock with the central Vportion 68 of uniform curvaturefwith thev end portions 172, 12, said end fporltionsterminating in hook-like `structures indicatedat' 14, 14 upon the inner faces of Which are formed the arcuate surfaces 16, 'I6 complementary in form to the already described surfaces 38 and 66 against which they areseated.V

In assembly a -saddle casting is mounted on the 'base'plate by sliding the flanges 52 into the slots -54 from the inner ends of saidslots, the move- "ment thereof being limited by abutment of the stops 88,88 (Figure 1) on the side walls of the 4saddle casting against thelnner edgesof Ithe retaining ears 56, 56. Thereafter, the truss springs "36,136 are inserted one after the other and power means maybe applied to stress said truss springs and thus Ypermit the insertionof the arch spring I4." :In place of power means a'hand tool 90 formed with the toe V92 and the heel 94V may be inserted in theY pocket 5I and used to flex the assembled arch spring'I4 and, at theV same time, flex the truss springs 36, 36 in the manner shown Ain'vFigure 17, the. tool 90 being moved to the posi- Vtion shown at` 90A, after which the end of the arch spring 'I4v 'in abutment'with the toolSEl under the heel 94 thereof will slide, or may be forced, downwardly intogthe seat 48 of theY saddle rcasting 50.

In" operation, application of a load upon the arch spring I4 will :tend to move the saddle casting Voutwardly along the base plate and this movement will be resistedby the truss'springs V3b,

` Y V36. As assembled, both the'archY spring YIII and the trusssprings 35, 36v are vunder strain and the ,amount and character of this strain may be fcontroilled accurately depending upon'the'service y`in-which ithe' device'` is to be used; In other .words,the Vcapacity. maybe relativelyv large or 'relatively srnall.4

It `will-benoted that lin my novel arrangement -I have :so designedV theparts that if the arch 'spring be 'lost `or destroyed the Vother parts will beY retainedin assembly and "maybe Vre-used With anevv-arch'spring` i 1' It is to be understood that I do 'not wish to be limited by the'exact embodimentsV ofthe device :shown iwhich aremerely byi way of illustration ,and notlimitation as variousand other forms of the device will, `of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from Vthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A shock absorber comprising a substantially flat base plate, an integral transverse abutment adjacent one end of said plate, vertical shoulders adjacent opposite ends of said abutment, a slidable transverse abutment supported on said plate adjacent the opposite end thereof, vertical shoulders integrally formed with said slidable abut--V ment, truss springs supported on said plate and having their opposite ends in engagement with the shoulders associated with said abutments respectively, an arch spring flexed between and serving to spread said abutments and to flex said truss springs, and means on said plate and on said sliding abutment serving to limit .the relative movement therebetween and to retain said parts inY assembly in case of loss orrbreakage of said Varch spring, said means comprising lateral flanges on said sliding abutment, shoulders on said last mentioned abutment inwardly of said flanges, and channels on said base plate receiving said lateral flanges and having Walls engageable with said shoulders.

2. In a shock absorber, a base plate having adjacent one endV a fixed transverse abutment and supporting adjacent the opposite end a slidable transverse abutment, a plate spring ilexed between said abutments to urge them apart, stop means at opposite sides of said base adjacent the center thereof limiting the flexure of said plate spring, trussr springs 'supported at their opposite ends from said base plate andsaid slidable abutment repectively and operative to resist the action of said plate spring, and flanged and reflanged retaining means on said base plate forming channels'said sliding abutment having lateral flanges received in said channels and means on said base plateengaging said flanges to limit the relative sliding movement therebetweenand retain said parts in assembled relationship;k

3. A shock absorber comprising a substantially flat base plate, an integral transverse abutment adjacent one end of said plate, vertical shoulders adjacent opposite endsof said abutment, aslidable transverse abutment supported on said plate adjacent the opposite end thereof, vertical shoulders integrally formed with saidslidable abutment, truss springs supported `on said plate'and vertical shoulders, flanged yand re-flanged ,pore tions forming Yopposedlongitudinal lateral chan@ nels adjacentthe opposite endof said plate, aV

slidable transverse abutment having flateral flanges received in said channels andadjacent vertical shoulders, truss springs having their `opposite ends in yengagement with the respective shoulders at opposite ends -of the device` and' flexed therebetween, and an arch spring flexed between said abutments to -urge them apart, whereby application of a load to said -arch spring serves to Vspread said abutments and said spread i-s resisted by said truss springs. f

springs, whereby an equilibrium of forces is established between said arch spring and said truss springs.

6. In a shock absorber, a base plate having adjacent one end a transverse .abutment with spaced vertical shoulders', a sliding transverse abutment mounted on .said plate .adjacent the opposite end,.spaced shoulders on` said sliding abutment, a truss spring assembly supported on said plate centrally thereof and comprising a plurality of springshaving their opposite ends engaging said shoulders adjacent said respective abutments,v an arch spring exed between said abutmentsk and operative to spread them apart and to ex said truss springs, and means on said plate and said slidable abutment serving to retain them in assembled relationship if said arch spring is broken.

'7. In a shock absorber, `a base plate having adjacent one end a fixed transverse abutment and supporting adjacent the opposite end a slidable transverse abutment, a plate spring flexed between said abutments to urge them apart, stop means at opposite sides of sad :base adjacent the center thereof limiting the flexure of said plate spring, and truss springs supported at their opposite ends from said base plate and said slidable abutment respectively and operative to resist the action of said plate spring, said slidable abutment having a tool pocket adjacent the end of said plate spring adapted to receive a exing tool.

8. In a shock absorber, a base plate, a xed abutment on said lplate adjacent one end, a sliding abutment on said base plate adjacent the opposite end, a at arch spring flexed between said abutments to urge them apart, `and truss springs supported on said plate beneath said -arch spring and having their opposite ends engaging means on said plate and means on said sliding abutment respectively to resist the action of said arch spring, said sliding abutment having lateral anges and 'lateral abutments adjacent said flanges, and said base plate having portions flanged and re-flanged to form guide Ways and abutments Ifor said flanges.

9. A shock absorber comprising a substantially at base plate, an integral transverse abutment adjacent one end of said plate, vertical shoulders adjacent opposite ends of said abutment, a slidable transverse abutment supported on said plate adjacent the opposite end of said plate, vertical shoulders integrally formed with said slidable abutment, truss springs supported on said plate and having their opposite ends in engagement with the shoulders associated with said abutments respectively, and an arch spring flexed between and serving to spread said abutments and to flex said truss springs.

10. A shock absorber comprising -a base plate, a pair of abutments supported thereon and having sliding relation with respect to each other, spaced stop means supported in iixed relationship to said abutments respectively,I truss springs flexed between stop means associated with said .abutments respectively and an arch'spring vilexed .betweenvsaid abutments to resist the action of said truss springs, and interengaging means on said plate and said sliding abutment retaining said parts in assembled relationship and limiting their relative movement.

11. In a shock absorber, a base plate, a fixed abutment on said. plate adjacent one end, a sliding-abutment on said base plate adjacent the opposite end, a flat arch spring flexed between said a-butments to urge them apart, truss springs supported on said plate beneath said archspring andv having their opposite ends engaging means on said plate and means yon said sliding abutment respectively to resist the action of said arch spring, and abutment means formed at the opposite sides of said plate laterally thereof to limit the ilexure of said arch spring.

12. In a shock absorber, a base plate having at one end a transverse abutment with'vertical shoulders at cpposite'ends of said abutment, fianged and re-ilanged portions forming opposed longitudinal lateral channels adjacent the opposite ends of said plate, a slidable transverse abutment having lateral flanges received -in said channels and adjacent shoulders, truss springs having their opposite ends in engagement with the respective shoulders at opposite ends .of the device and exed therebetween, and an arch spring iieXed between said abutments to urge them apart and resist said truss springs.

13. In a shock absorber, a base plate having adjacent one end a transverse abutment With spaced vertical shoulders, a sliding transverse abutment mounted on said plate adjacent the opposite end, spaced shoulders on said sliding abutment, a truss spring assembly supported on said plate centrally thereof and comprising a plurality of springs having their opposite ends engaging the shoulders adjacent said respective abutments, and an arch spring overlying said assembly and flexed between said abutments and operative to spread them apart and to ex said truss springs opposing said spread.

14. In a vshock absorber, a base plate, xed and slidably movable abutments supported thereon, a plate spring ileXed between certain abutments to urge them apart, other resilient means between said plate and said spring engaging means on said abutments respectively to resist the action of said spring, and means on said movable abutment engaging means on said base plate to retain said parts in assembled relationship and to limit said sliding movement.

15. In a shock absorber, a base plate, a fixed abutment on said plate adjacent one end, a sliding abutment on said base plate adjacent the oppcsite end, a fiat arch spring ileXed between said abutments to urge them apart, and truss springs supported on said plate beneath said arch spring and having their opposite ends engaging means on said plate and means on said sliding abutment respectively to resist the action of said arch spring.

16. A shock absorber comprising a base plate, integral and slidable abutments supported thereon, a plate spring flexed between said abutments, and resilient means supported on said plate beneath said spring in engagement with said slidable abutment to resist the spreading movement set up by said plate spring, said slidable abutment having a pocket adapted to receive a flexing tool.

l'JInv a .shock absorber, a base plate, V fixed and, slidable abutments supported thereon, a

Vspring iiexed between certainabutments to .urge

on, a flexed plate'spring having its ends seated against said abutments, and resilient means supported on said plate beneath said spring in engagement `with said slidable Yabutment to resist `the spreading'movement set up by said'spring.

19. A shock absorber comprising a base plate,

integral and slidable abutments supported thereon, a plate spring flexed between said abutments, and resilient means supported on said plate beneath said spring in engagement with said slidable abutment to resist the spreading movement set up by said plate spring, said resilient means comprising a plurality of members of arcuate j form and uniform curvature end to end, each of said members having adjacent its opposite ends on the inner faces thereof relatively shallow cavities affording seats for means on said abutments respectively.

`2O. In a shock absorber, a base plate, Xed and slidable abutments thereon having stop 'means a spring flexed between'said abutments to urge them apart, other resilient members-be tween said plate and said spring engaging said stop means respectively to resist the action of said spring, eachjof said resilient members hav-- ing an arcuate form of regular curvatureinterrupted on'its inner faces adjacent its Vopposite ends by a relatively. shallow concave seat forming a means of engagement with said stop means.

21. In an arcuate resilient member formed of round bar stock of substantially constant curvature and section from 'end toend, arcuate end portions of similar form, each of said end portions having ashallow cavity formingV a concave seat on the inner face thereof for abutmentv with means for flexing said member,l the outer face of said member being uninterrupted, and said shallow cavities reducing` to a minimum concentration of 'stresses at said Vend portions.

22. An arcuate resilient member of substantiallyY uniform Ysection endto end formed of round bar stock, Vsaid uniform section being slightly diminished 'adjacent the ends thereof to afford shallow cavities on the Yinner face of said member for abutment with associated iiexing means, the outer face of said member being of unbroken uniform curvature, and said shallow cavities reducing toa minimum concentration of stresses at said ends.

ROBERT B.' C'OTTRELL. 

